Motion change transmission

Abstract

A motion change transmission includes a rotor rotationally supported by and/or within a framing assemblage or housing. The face of the rotor is provided with alternating, axially and circumferentially extending hills and valleys. At least one rod is disposed transversely relative to the rotor and is pivotal in a given plane relative to the assemblage or housing and is operatively engageable with the face of the rotor such that when one end of the rod traverses a rotor hill, the other end of the rod simultaneously traverses a rotor valley. Either or both ends of the rod are connected to reciprocating members. When means are provided for driving the reciprocating members, the transmission provides for the conversion of reciprocating motion to rotary motion. And when means are provided for driving the rotor, the transmission provides for the conversion of rotary motion to reciprocating motion.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a motion change transmission, a framing assemblage, a rotor rotatably supported by the assemblage and having a face provided with alternating, axially and circumferentially extending hills and valleys, at least one rod disposed transversely relative to the rotor and being pivotally supported by the assemblage, said rod being operatively engageable with the face of the rotor such that when one end of the rod traverses a rotor hill the other end of the rod simultaneously traverses a rotor valley, pivot means carried by the assemblage for supporting the rod for pivoting movement relative to the rotor, said pivot means including a pivot shaft connected to said rod and projecting laterally from both sides of the rod, and said pivot means having spaced bearings connected to the framing assemblage for journalling the ends of the pivot shaft, and means for connecting at least one end of the rod to a reciprocating member, said connecting means accommodating pivotal movement of the rod and reciprocating movement of the member, and means to guide the reciprocating member in linear reciprocating movement. 
     
     
       2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one end of the rod is bifurcated such that when one end of the rod traverses a rotor hill the bifurcated end of the rod simultaneously traverses a pair of adjacent rotor valleys. 
     
     
       3. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the face of the rotor carries an even number of hills and valleys, and the opposed ends of the transverse rod extend angularly relative to each other. 
     
     
       4. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the face of the rotor carries an even number of hills and valleys, and the transverse rod is offset from the axis of the rotor with the pivot axis of the rod extending normal to and being aligned with the rotor axis. 
     
     
       5. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the face of the rotor carries an even number of hills and valleys, and a pair of generally parallel rods are disposed transversely relative to the rotor and pivotally supported by the assemblage, said rods being offset symmetrically relative to the rotor axis and having their pivot axes extending normal to and aligned with the rotor axis. 
     
     
       6. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the face of the rotor carries an odd number of hills and valleys, and the rod is bifurcated at both ends thereof such that when one bifurcated end of the rod traverses adjacent rotor hills the other bifurcated end of the rod simultaneously traverses adjacent rotor valleys. 
     
     
       7. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein the face of the rotor carries an odd number of hills and valleys. 
     
     
       8. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one end of the pivotal rod is connected to a reciprocating member and means are provided for driving the rotor so that the transmission provides for the conversion of rotary motion to reciprocating motion. 
     
     
       9. The structure as set forth in claim 8 wherein the rotor comprises a solid structure. 
     
     
       10. The structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein means are provided for driving the reciprocating member so that the transmission provides for the conversion of reciprocating motion to rotary motion. 
     
     
       11. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the reciprocating member is a piston and the connecting means comprise a transverse pin carried by the end of the rod and engageable within opposed slots in the wall of the piston. 
     
     
       12. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the reciprocating member is a piston and the connecting means comprise an H-member slide having a center leg extending transversely through the rod and being pivotal therein and opposed side legs engageable within opposed slots in the wall of the piston. 
     
     
       13. The structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the reciprocating member is a piston and the connecting means comprise a cross-member pivotally carried by the piston and having a hole generally centrally thereof and the rod is slidably disposed in said hole. 
     
     
       14. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rotor comprises a shaft having the hills and valleys formed on the end thereof. 
     
     
       15. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rod is provided with wear resistant shoes for sliding engagement with the rotor hills and valleys. 
     
     
       16. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rod is provided with rotatable wheels disposed concentrically of the rod for rolling engagement with the rotor hills and valleys. 
     
     
       17. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rod is provided with rotatable gears having teeth in meshing engagement with corresponding teeth formed on the rotor hills and valleys. 
     
     
       18. The structure as set forth in claim 17 wherein the gears provided on the rod are bevel gears. 
     
     
       19. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rod is provided with rotatable sprockets having lugs in meshing engagement with corresponding depressions provided on the rotor hills and valleys. 
     
     
       20. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the framing assemblage comprises a housing for enclosing the rotor and said spaced bearings are disposed in the wall of the housing. 
     
     
       21. The structure of claim 1, wherein at least one end of the pivotal rod is pivotally connected to a pair of reciprocating members, said pair of reciprocating members being out of axial alignment. 
     
     
       22. The structure of claim 1, wherein the pivot means is spaced from the rotor, and said structure includes means for adjusting the spacing between the rotor and pivot means in a direction parallel to the axis of the rotor. 
     
     
       23. The structure of claim 1, and including adjusting means for adjusting the position of the rod in a direction lateral to the axis of the rod. 
     
     
       24. In a pump or compressor, a housing, a rotor rotatably supported within the housing and having a face provided with alternating, axially and circumferentially extending hills and valleys, at least one rod disposed transversely relative to the rotor and being pivotally supported by the housing, said rod being operatively engageable with the face of the rotor such that when one end of the rod traverses a rotor hill, the other end of the rod simultaneously traverses a rotor valley, pivot means carried by the housing for supporting the rod for pivoting movement relative to the rotor, said pivot means including a pivot shaft connected to said rod and projecting laterally from both sides of the rod, and said pivot means having spaced bearings connected to the housing for journalling the ends of the pivot shaft, a cylinder corresponding to each end of the rod and disposed in alignment with the corresponding end of the rod and parallel to the rotor axis, pistons reciprocally disposed in said cylindrs, and means connecting the respective ends of the rod to the corresponding pistons and accommodating the pivotal movement of the rod and the reciprocating movement of the pistons, and means to drive the rotor. 
     
     
       25. The structure as set forth in claim 24 wherein the cylinders are disposed outside of the housing and communicate therewith through passages and the rod extends through said passages for connection to the respective pistons. 
     
     
       26. In an internal combustion engine, a housing, a rotor rotatably supported within the housing and having a face provided with alternating, axially and circumferentially extending hills and valleys, at least one rod disposed transversely relative to the rotor, pivot means to pivotally connect the rod to the housing, said rod being operatively engageable with the face of the rotor such that when one end of the rod traverses a rotor hill the other end of the rod simultaneously traverses a rotor valley, a cylinder corresponding to each end of the rod, pistons reciprocally disposed in said cylinders, and means connecting the respective ends of the rod to the corresponding pistons and accommodating the pivotal movement of the rod and the reciprocating movement of the pistons, means for driving the pistons, and means for adjusting the relative position of the rotor and said pivot means to vary the timing of the engine. 
     
     
       27. The structure as set forth in claim 26 wherein the rod is pivotal on a fulcrum member supported by the housing. 
     
     
       28. The structure as set forth in claim 26 wherein the pistons are double acting pistons whereby the rod is moved pivotally or rocked in both directions by power strokes of the pistons, each piston having a generally cylindrical body with a head at opposite ends of said body, said means for accommodating pivotal movement of the rod comprising a slot in the cylindrical body and extending generally normal to the axis of the body, and a pin connected to said rod and disposed for sliding movement in said slot. 
     
     
       29. The structure as set forth in claim 26 wherein the rod is extendible and the respective cylinders and movable in a plane defined by the corresponding end of the rod and the rotor axis to effect a corresponding variation in the piston stroke even while said engine is running. 
     
     
       30. The structure as set forth in claim 26 wherein the rod is extendible and the respective cylinders communicates with the housing through passages are formed by opposed telescopingly engaged tubular members provided on the housing and the cylinders respectively, said tubular members abeing relatively movable to effect a corresponding variation in the piston stroke even while said engine is running. 
     
     
       31. The structure as set forth in claim 30 wherein the inner tubular members are threaded externally and the outer tubular members rotatably support an internally threaded collar threadedly engaged on the corresponding inner tubular member, said collars being rotatable to move the cylinders relative to the housing. 
     
     
       32. The structure as set forth in claim 31 wherein the inner tubular members are provided on the cylinders and the outer tubular members are provided on the housing. 
     
     
       33. The structure as set forth in claim 30 wherein the opposed telescopingly engaged tubular members connecting the respective cylinders to the housing are movable by hydraulic means. 
     
     
       34. The structure as set forth in claim 33 wherein said hydraulic means comprise a cylinder-piston combination unit disposed between the respective cylinders and the housing. 
     
     
       35. The structure as set forth in claim 30 wherein the opposed telescopingly engaged tubular members connecting the respective cylinders to the housing are movable by linkage means. 
     
     
       36. The structure as set forth in claim 35 wherein said linkage means include a link member connecting the respective cylinders and the housing, said link members being further connected to a common control element.